My ATV rumbled through the arid dirt track of the Tarlac Recreational Park. I sped past a dune buggy, my hands shaking wildly as the ATV bounced through a rough patch of the road. The sun was gloriously shining above, the wind whipping through my whole body, my camera dangling just below my neck. The only thing missing was an AC/DC song blasting through as soundtrack and everything would’ve been rock n’ roll perfect.

LAKAD PILIPINAS AT THE TARLAC RECREATIONAL PARK - PHOTO BY DANDI GALVEZ

The change from absolute calm to supreme mayhem couldn’t be more jarring.

Our group from Microtel Luisita’s Tara Quin Tarlac Tour has just visited the hilltop sanctuary of Monasterio de Tarlac before heading to the Tarlac Recreational Park. It is arguably the hub of sports activity this side of the province.

A QUICK PACKED LUNCH BEFORE TOURING THE PARK

Packed lunches were passed around as we were briefed on what to expect from the recreational park. Through spoonful of pancit and crispy fried chickens, my ears suddenly perked up as I heard that the park has dune buggies and ATV’s (all terrain vehicles) available to drive around.

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WE CAN GO KAYAKING!

The introduction went on, the 78-hectare Tarlac Recreational Park also has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a lagoon for kayaking, an excellent biking trail, a zipline and an airsoft ground.

But all these are just flying through my head. I’m rarin’ to go board that ATV!

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BUT I CHOSE TO DO THE ATV ROUTE

I’m a relative newcomer when it comes to riding an ATV, having only driven it once through Mayon Volcano’s Lava Trail the year before. But it was such an exciting and addictive ride that even though the dune buggy seemed the safer choice, I still jumped on the ATV first.

EXPLORING THE DIRT TRAIL AT THE TARLAC RECREATIONAL PARK

Instructions were given and first-timers were briefed on how to handle the vehicles. Driving an ATV and a dune buggy is actually not that hard, it’s basically just a more advanced bump car. Advanced, being it has a gear for drive, neutral, and reverse. One just has to shift to drive, press the accelerator, brake if needed, and that’s it.

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ATV OR DUNE BUGGY, YOU CHOOSE

Revving our engines up, we donned our helmets and roared after the lead guide towards the rough trails of the Tarlac Recreational Park. The road winding through the rocky outskirts of the park is dry and dusty; clouds of dirt flew through the air as we sped through the landscape.

THIS IS FUN!

Good thing I was wearing a Headware for nose and mouth cover and an arm-warmer to protect myself from the elements. I just wish I bought a pair of shades the week before so I didn’t have to squint every time I pass through a dust cloud. It would’ve made for an easier, and not to mention safer, drive.

SCENIC RIDE ACROSS THE ATV TRAIL

The trail wound up and down through the hilly parts of the complex. I lost track of time but I guess it took a good thirty minutes for us to loop around the tracks and return to our starting point. The trail was really scenic that I have to stop every now and then take photos of the landscape.

TRYING OUT THE DUNE BUGGY AS A PASSENGER

But that wasn’t the end of it. Not by a long shot.

I totally forgot there were other things I can do at the Tarlac Recreational Park. I could’ve biked, I could’ve paddled a canoe through their lagoon, or perhaps ridden the zipline (which I’ve done numerous times before, but sort of felt it lacking in excitement).

What I did instead is ride the dune buggy through the same rough course—first as a passenger to take photos, then as a driver.

A BUMPY AND DUSTY RIDE

I was so addicted with Tarlac Recreational Park’s rough trail that I spent the whole afternoon, doing nothing but revving and roaring across its dusty roads with AC/DC songs playing in my head. It was pure adrenaline-rush and I kept wishing I’d find a longer trail to get lost in.

GOING OFF ROAD – PHOTO BY MYKIE IBARRA

After uncountable hours of ripping through Tarlac Recreational Park, I emerged from the dune buggy all dusty and thirsty. And you’d never guess, but there’s a brainfreezing-cold Razon’s Halo-Halo waiting for me at the end of the line. How perfect is that.

 

Activty Fee: Dune Buggy & ATV P500.00/hr | Kayak P50.00/hr | Biking P50.00/hr | Fishing Php100/day Camping P300.00/tent | Own Tent P100.00/head

 

Tarlac Recreational Park
Address: San Juan de Valdez, San Jose, Tarlac
Contact Number: (045) 493-2471 | (0999) 885-3981
Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM, Closed Mondays
Entrance Fee: Free
GPS Map Coordinates: 15.5010257,120.500337

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